Adapter for apparatus handling receptacles



M 8, 1933. M LANE ET AL 1,921,414

ADAPTER FOR APPARATUS HANDLING RECEPTAGLES Filed June 11, 1931 Wren/m;

M W [4/76 a. A. fir/a'e Patented Aug. 8, i933 iT STATES. P

i,92l,iii

rear i rics ADAPTER FOR APPARATUS HANDLING RECEPTACLES Application June 11, 1931. Serial-1N0. 543,533

10 Claims 7 This invention relates to adapters for apparatus handling receptacles, and more particularlyv to adapters for trays used in handling different types and sizes of parts during manufacturing processes.

I An object of this invention is to provide a'simple, efficient, and practical adapter which may be arranged in 'a receptacle for handling diiferent types and sizes of parts.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention there is provided an adapter for receptacles for handling different types and sizes of apparatus or parts during manufacturing processes, wherein formed receiving members are inserted in a receptacle along opposing parallel walls thereof to. receive spacing members of various lengths placed between transverse dividing members to form a support for. the apparatus or parts, the spacing members being retained in position "by resilient latches or retaining members, removably engaging grooves in the retaining members and having depending portions. overhanging the upper edges of the spacing members.

Other objects will be more apparent from the following detailed description'when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a lateral sectional view of a receptacle illustrating the adapter;

structure shown in Fig. 1;

' Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the adapter, and i Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of that 35. shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, numeral 10 designates a receptacle having a bottom 11, side walls 12, and

end walls 13. In the particular receptacle employed for the purpose of illustrating this inven- I tion the side walls 12 as well as the end walls 13 taper inwardly as at 141 to a supporting flange 15. The universal adapter consists of receiving members 16 formed of sheet metal and having inwardly and upwardly extending supporting members 17 integral therewith. The upper portions of the receiving members 16 are tapered, as at 18, at an angle equal to the angle of the tapered portions 14 of the walls of thereceptacle so as to conform thereto. tapered portions 18 are bent inwardly and downwardly to form pockets or recesses 19 for receiving projections 20 of the latches 21. At spaced 1 positions along the lower extremity of the tapered Fig.- 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the The upper edges of the portion 18 are inwardly projecting integral tongue portions 22 for receiving the other ends 23 of the latches 21 which are bent backwardly upon themselves to form arcuate engaging surfaces 24. The latches 21 are formed of sheet etal and are of a resilient character, adapted to be bent at the lower engaging edges 25 to move the projections 29 and 23 thereof toward each other.

A plurality of horizontally positioned dividers 28 are disposed in the receptacle 10, the ends thereof extending into engagement with the inner walls of t .e receiving members 16 and resting upon the upwardly extending supporting members 17; These dividers are positioned in any desired grouped relation and are held in these relative positions by spacing members 29 disposed therebetween, the lower portions thereof being held'in place by the'upwardly extending supporting members 17. When the dividers 28 and the spacing members 29 have been disposed v in their respective positions the latches 21 may be locked in place. In placing the latches 21 in their proper positions the projections 20 are dis posed in the pockets 19-and by forcing the latches toward the spacing members 29 the arcuate surfaces 24 of the projections 23 are moved over the ends of the tongue portions 22 and forced into the position shown in Fig. 3 due to the resiliency of the latches. With the latches so positioned and so locked in place the dividers 28 are held against vertical movement, due to the latches engaging the upper surfaces thereof and the supporting members 17 engaging the lower surfaces 7 thereof, and the dividers are held against lateral displacement by the spacing members 29.'

In removing the dividers 28 for the purpose of rearranging them to adapt the receptacle for other articles of manufacture any suitable hooked instrument may be inserted through apertures 30, two sets of which are provided for each latch 21, for the purpose of moving the lower portions of the latches toward the upper portions thereof until the projections 23 are free from the tongue portions 22 and when this has been accomplished the latches may be readily removed from the receiving members 16. It has been found that in removing the latches 21 it is merely necessary to draw the lower portions of the latches upwardly lates to one particular type of receptacle, it should be understood that various types of receptacles may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a receptacle having side walls, of receiving members disposed in said receptacle adjacent said side walls, a plurality of dividers disposed in said receptacle and having their ends receivable in said receiving members,

and means carried by said receiving members for locking said dividers in place.

2. The combination with a receptacle having side walls, of receiving members disposed in said receptacle adjacent the side walls thereof, dividers disposed in said receptacle and having their ends receivable in said receiving members, spacing members disposed between said dividers in said receiving members, and means for locking said dividers and said spacing members against displacement.

3. The combination with a receptacle having side Walls, portions thereof being tapered inwardly, of receiving members disposed in said receptacle adjacent said side walls and having portions tapered inwardly conforming to the inward ly tapered portions of said side walls so that the receiving means may be held against displacement, a plurality of dividers disposed in said receptacle and having their ends r ceivable in said receiving members, and means carried said receiving members for securing said dividers in predetermined positions.

4. The combination with a receptacle having side walls, portions thereof being tapered inward- 1y, of receiving members disposed in said receptacle and having inwardly tapered portions disposed adjacent the inwardly tapered portions of said side walls so that the receiving'members may be held against displacement, a plurality of dividers disposed in said receptacle and having their ends receivable in said receiving members, and means carried by the inwardly tapered portions of said receiving members for securing said dividers in said receptacle.

5. The combination with a receptacle having side walls, of receiving members disposed in said receptacle adjacent said side walls, supporting members integral with said receiving members, a plurality of dividers disposed in said receptacle upon said supporting members, a plurality oi spacing members disposed between said dividers and held in said receiving members by said supporting members, and means removably secured to said receiving members for holding said dividers and said spacing members against displacement.

6. An adapter for apparatus handling receptacles comprising an upright receiving member having a ledge at its lower extremity for receiving dividers and spacing members, and means carried by said receiving member at its upper extremity for securing the dividers and spacing members against displacement relative to said receiving member.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a receiving member arranged to receive spacing members and dividers, a latch, and means carried by said receiving member for removably receiving said latch so that said latch may secure the spacing members and dividers against displacement relative to said receiving member.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a receiving member arranged to be disposed in a receptacle for receiving dividers for said receptacle, spacing members for positioning the dividers relative to each other, a resilient latch and means for removably securing said resilient latch to said receiving member in a position to engage said dividers and spacing members for holding them in their relative positions. 7

9. The combination with a receptacle having side walls, of receiving members disposed in said receptacle adjacent said side walls, supporting members integral with said receiving members,

a plurality of dividers with article receiving re-' cesses therein disposed in said receptacle upon supporting members, a plurality of spacing members disposed between said dividers and held in said receiving members by said supporting members, and means removably secured to said receiving members for holding said dividers and said spacing members against displacement. Y

10. The combination with a receptacle having side walls, of receiving members disposed in said receptacle adjacent said side walls, supportingmembers integral with said receiving members, a plurality of dividers disposed in said receptacle upon said supporting members, a plurality of spacing members of difierent sizes-disposed between said dividers to effect a desired spacing thereof, said spacing members and said dividers being held in said receiving members by said supporting members, and means removably secured to said receiving members for holding said dividers and said spacing members against displacement.

MAURICE W. LANE. STANLEY A. PRICE. 

